My train of reasoning exactly. I would've liked Blade Runner to remain the sole film without sequels, like a cinematographic totem for the ages. But since they were going to make it anyways, seeing it was for me a must as a die-hard fan. I'm still digesting the film... what I can say is that we all know that down the line. months or years, we'll all end up seeing it on streaming or on cable, etc. So, since the cinematography is indeed beautiful despite anything else, I think it's worth watching on the silver screen if only once. Also, even if you don't like it, I can say the film is not a fully committee-made crowd pleaser.

I've read sequels you wouldn't believe: A mutilated necrophiliac JF Sebastian, a zombie Pris turned into a giant spider... Roy transmigrated into a talking halliburton briefcase... Deckard and Rachael managing a trout farm in Ambalema... all those sequel attempts will be lost, difuminated in the original Blade Runner's shine, like black spots in the sun. Time to rewatch.

We didn't need a sequel. We didn't ask for one. Well, at least I didn't. Like I didn't ask for the last 4 (or 5) Star Wars movies. But they came, and it's hard to not see them, because deep down we all want this stuff to "add" to the legacy, but it's nearly impossible to live up to 35 years of analysis, etc, that we've gotton with BR. And "filling in the gaps" and "answering the questions" posed by the original isn't necessarily a good thing. Often the fact that those questions -remain- unanswered is what preserves the mystique of the original concepts.

I just wish that there had been some glimmer of the original in Villeneuve's movie, because I respect him as a filmmaker based on his other work. He's a good director, but no one except 1982's Ridley Scott could have treated the sequel with the same creative sense and sensitivity of the first film. And the Ridley of '82 is long-gone, witness "Robin Hood", "Prometheus", and even "Kingdom of Heaven", all of which I hate for their sheer commercial prostitutionism.

The original isn't perfect, and neither is the sequel, but at least the original was just that....original. It had mood, unique design, and an interesting interaction of characters. Unfortunately, at least for me, the sequel falls flat on basically every one of those points. The cinematography is wonderful, but it's not Ridley's style, which made the original work. It was the look along with the music that made it work, and that simply wasn't present in the sequel.

I look upon the original Blade Runner like the classic '2001- a Space Odyssey'. Both are works of art which transcend film and both have sequels which attempt to follow up on a story which was fine just as it is.

I have limited income and so the theater will not be seeing me on this one, I will get the BluRay for completeness however.

I've made my choice and I'll be sticking with it the rest of my life.
I've also accepted most fans are gushing over it, IF I wanted a sequal I'm sure I would have enjoyed it. I have to accept that any discussion of Blade Runner will be including the events in 2049. The first film is forever altered to most fans now, this will be forever. I'm going to miss the pure discussions of a single film, it diminishes the online community experience for me just as JJ Trek muddied the waters for me as well.
I've sort of quietly been reading the thoughts on the film here and elsewhere, and after the wow this was great reactions, I fully expected some deep thoughts, and frankly and I don't mean to insult fans of the film, But I'm not seeing the deep discussions the first spawned into the big questions of existence and new ways of thinking on what makes us.. us. Rather those are repeated themes simply revisited again and a lot of visual nuts and bolts talk, easter eggs all the inside baseball talk to be expected.
The only new ground blazed seems to be AI on replicant action.
AI being all the rage right now I don't think it trail blazed anything there.
I will remain attentive however to discussions and see if some untapped vein leads to something compelling, I realize it's early and processing is going on.

I was livid when I found out about 2049. I can give you emails of 25 people that heard me bitching and complaining how we didnít need this and it would sully the original.
I didnít want it.
But I saw itÖ
And I loved it.
It is beautiful cinema.
It answers some questions, raise others and most importantly leaves some alone.
What is alive, what has a soul? The AI aspect asks this as well as the replicants.
Harrison Ford gave the best performance I have seen in a long, long time.
I love it.
As much as the original in all of the 442 versions and formats I own it in? No.
But itís close.

I enjoyed it. It's not the film I would have made if it was up to me, but that's neither here nor there. It grew on me a little more every time I watched it.

After seeing what Star Wars has become over the past 3 years, I think Blade Runner fans should consider themselves lucky. Maybe some of us didn't want a sequel, and I can understand that, but at least the one we got has some objective value to it, and actually works as a film.

I was livid when I found out about 2049. I can give you emails of 25 people that heard me bitching and complaining how we didnít need this and it would sully the original.
I didnít want it.
But I saw itÖ
And I loved it.
It is beautiful cinema.
It answers some questions, raise others and most importantly leaves some alone.
What is alive, what has a soul? The AI aspect asks this as well as the replicants.
Harrison Ford gave the best performance I have seen in a long, long time.
I love it.
As much as the original in all of the 442 versions and formats I own it in? No.
But itís close.

My 2 cents.

Agree 500% and I also would like to add, that to me, it was the best movie of 2017....again, a metter of tastes, so not trying to convince anyone, just telling you my point of view.

I was livid when I found out about 2049. I can give you emails of 25 people that heard me bitching and complaining how we didnít need this and it would sully the original.
I didnít want it.
But I saw itÖ
And I loved it.
It is beautiful cinema.
It answers some questions, raise others and most importantly leaves some alone.
What is alive, what has a soul? The AI aspect asks this as well as the replicants.
Harrison Ford gave the best performance I have seen in a long, long time.
I love it.
As much as the original in all of the 442 versions and formats I own it in? No.
But itís close.

My 2 cents.

Agree 500% and I also would like to add, that to me, it was the best movie of 2017....again, a metter of tastes, so not trying to convince anyone, just telling you my point of view.

Gus

x3

I liked 2049 and I know it's a good movie since my wife and kids did not like it. They did not like the original either. So I am on to something.

The ending allows for other sequels / prequels too. I want to go back before 2019._________________Life is short so enjoy the moment and make yourself happy